Portable electric tool



May 23, 1944.

w. K. BECKWITH 2,349,401

PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOOL Filed Jan. 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 d izwmwm/ y 23, 1944- w. K. BECKWITH 2,349,401

PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOOL Filed Jan. 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TORNEY,

Patented May 23, 1944 2,349,401 7 PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOOL Wendell K. Beckwith, Whitewater, Wis'., assignor to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.. a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 21, 1942, Serial No. 427,635

11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in portable tool assemblages, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of portable electric tools of the pistol grip trigger controlled An object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable electric tool assemblage which is simple and compact in construction, and highly flexible and eflicient in operation.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide various forms of portable electric tools of the type wherein the, electric propelling motor is confined within a pistol grip casing and is controllable by means of a trigger actuated switch to drive a tool rotating spindle joumalled within and projecting from the barrel of the pistol assemblage. In order to produce a practical tool of this type; it is necessary to provide a relatively powerful motor confined within limited space; and because relatively small and compact control and motion transmitting mechanisms must also be employed, it is desirable to be able to assemble the parts in compact groups which are independently insertible and removable. It is furthermore desirable to have these mechanisms quickly and conveniently accessible for inspection. In the prior portable'pistol grip tool units, the limitations imposed by the size of the housing casing did not permit the use of a suificiently powerful motor, and these rather bulky assemblages could not be used in relatively inaccessible places. The

motor housing casings of the prior pistol grip tool.

' assemblages were ordinarily formed of .a series of end coacting sections disposed in series from une end of each tool to the other, and this type of assemblage made it tedious to'expose or to inspect the internal parts without considerable loss of time and difiiculty. The prior devices of this type were also diificult to construct and to assemble, and the delicate control and motion transmitting mechanisms were not amply protested against the abuse to which such tools are normally subjected.

It is therefore a more specific object of my resent. invention to provide a new and useful portable electric tool unit of the motor driven istnl-grip trigger controlled type, which obviates all of the above mentioned objectionable features.

Another. object of this invention is to provide an improved motor driven piston grip tool assemblage wherein a powerful electric propelling motor of sturdy construction is snugly and safelv confined within a compact and attractive housing and in which the mechanism can be idly operated while exposed to view.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved enclosure for the motor and for'the control and transmission mechanisms of a portable electric tool, which will permit convenient and rapid access to all normally concealed parts, and which also facilitates manufacture and assembly of such devices.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved pistol grip electric tool wherein only two casing sections of simple and sturdy construction and of highly attractive appearance, are utilized to protectively conceal all of the working parts, in such manner that the tool may be manipulated in relatively restricted and inaccessible places such as corners.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved pistol grip trigger controlled portable electric tool unit which is compact and durable in structure, readily 'manipulable, and adapted to be manufactured at moderate cost due to elimination of difficult machining operations.

These and other specific objects and advan the same, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the'various views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the interior of one of the improved pistol grip trigger controlled portable electric tool units with the enclosing or cover section of the casing removed so as to reveal the working parts;

Fig. 2 is an outside view ofthe assembled tool looking toward the enclosing or cover section of the casing;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through a fragment of the casing cover section, taken along the lin 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inside plan view of the main casing section alone, devoid 'of all parts normally associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the casing taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. l but showing an end view of the motor rotor; I

Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view of the movable brush control for energizing the motor showing the trigger mechanism in inactive position; and

surfaces Fig. 7 is a similardiagrammaticview, showing the trigger mechanism in action as when the motor is operating.

The fact that the invention has been shown and described herein as having been embodied in a portable pistol-grip trigger-controlled electric motor driven tool of the type especially adapted to shoot" holes with the aid of a particular type of compact chuck cooperating with an ordinary twist drill, should not be regarded as an intent to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improved tool assemblage.

Referring to the drawings, the improved port-- able tool specifically shown therein, comprises in general, a main casing section 9 and a closure or cover section l coacting therewith in clam-shell fashion along a single plane surface ll extending from side to side and from end to end of both sections 9, I 9; an electric motor having a fixed field core l2 formed of a series of laminations l9 interconnected by rivets l4 and coacting with elongated and circular pads l5, l6 formed within the medial elliptical portions l1, l9 of the casing sections 9, l0, and also having a rotor l9 and commutator 20 carried by a main shaft 2| iournalled in antifriction bearings 22, 29 mounted in the main casing section 9; an upper brush 2'4 constantly resiliently urged into engagement with the commutator 20 of the motor rotor l9 by a spring 25. a lower brush 26 adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the motor commutator 29 sockets 45, 49 for likewise snugly receiving the Journal bearings 41, 48 respectively of a counter shaft 49 which is disposed between the shaft 2| and spindle 29. While the plane surfaces II are preferably accurately machined or ground, the sockets 31, 99, 39, 40, 4|, 42, 45, 46, may be pressed into proper shape and alinment with the aid of a punch, and no additional machining of the sections 9, I9 is required except for the drilling and tapping of a few holes. The two casing sections 9, l0 may be detachably interconnected by means. of several screws 59, and the motor field I2 may be forced into engagement with the pads l5, l6 of the sections 9, I9 by means of screws 5| piercing bosses on the casing sections and having screw thread coaction with threaded holes in the core l2, see Fig. 5.

The electric motor which is housed entirely within and between the medial elliptical portions l1, l9 of the casing sections 9, T0, is of relatively standard construction; and the antifriction or ball bearings 22, 23 in which the moby means of toggle mechanism confined within 9 end 3| of the casing sections 9, ill; a ventilating fan 82 carried by the motor shaft 2| and cooperating with air inlet and discharge openings 39, 34 respectively formed in the casing sections 9, l0; and a flexible conductor cable 95 leading into the lower end of the handle 21 of the casing sections 9, l0, and being'firmly secured to the, main section 9. by means of a resilient clamp 35 coacting with an intervening cork pad or the like.

The housing casi sections 9, I01 may be formed either of light metal or of some durable non-metallic material such as plastic, and while both of these sections have approximately the same external appearance as shown in Fi 2, u

and also have but a single set of machined plane ll of mutual coaction: the internal construction'oi the main section 9 is more comprehensive than that of the cover section II as illustrated in Fig. 4, in order that the motor and the control and transmission mechanisms may be fixedly but detachably confined in the main section 9. In addition to having the motor field positioning pads l5, l6 formed therein, the main casing section 9 is provided with semi-circular upper and lower brush retaining sockets 31, 99

.disposed in approximately vertical alinement with the casfng handle 21, with other horizontally alined lower semi-circular sockets 99, 40 for snugly receiving the motor shaft bearings 22, 23 respectively,'with still other horizontally alined upper semi-circular sockets II, 42 for snugly receiving the journal bearings 49, 44 respectively, of the spindle 29, and with additional tor 'shaft 2| is join'nalled are fixedly but removably confined within the sockets 39, 40 respectively of the main casing section 9, by means of spring clips 52, 53 which are detachably secured to the section 9 by means of screws, as shown in Fig. 1. The laminated field core 12 of the electric motor may be assembled with the aid of the rivets l4, and may also be provided with the usual windings not shown, and when this core 12 is held in snug coaction with the pads l5, I9 01' the main casing section 9 and with positioning flanges 54 formed on each of the casing sections 9, ill, with the aid of the clamping screw 5|, the core should be centrallized with respect to the motor rotor l9. It will be noted from Fig. 5, that the laminations l9 of the core assemblage are flattened on their opposite sides 0 so as to properly coact with the pads l5, l8, and

this flattening also makes it possible to utilize a relatively powerful motor having a rotor l9 of maximum diameter in an enclosing casing having minimum thickness through its elliptical portion l1, IS. The ventilating fan 92 is secured to the motor shaft 2| between the rotor 19 and the bearing 23, and is adapted to draw cooling air into the casing through the inlet openings 33, and to deliver the warm air from a the main casing through the outlet openings 94.

The upper brush 24 which constantly engages the motor commutator 20, is slidably confined within a tubular guide 55 and is retained therein by means of a removable cap 56. This cap 55 is removable from the exterior of the main casin so as to permit free removal of the upper brush 24, andnormally coacts with the upper end of the brush tensioning spring 25. The lower brush 29 which is movable to start and stop the electric motor, is slidably confined within a tubular guide 51 and is connected by means of another spring 58 to the swinging end of a toggle lever 59 which is swingable about spaced pivots 50 carried by a bracket 6| secured to the casing section 9, see Figs. 6 and 7. A toggle quadrant 62 which is swingably suspended upon the fixed pivots N, has one pin 69 which is connected by a tension spring 64 to the medial portion of the lever 59, and another pin 65 which pivotally connects the inner end of the trigger 28 with the quadrant 42. Anothertension spring 88 connects the pin 55 with'a fixed portion of the main casing section 9, and this stronger spring 66 constantly tends to move the trigger 28 into the position shown in intermediate horizontally alined semi-circular Figs. 1 and 6, wherein the movable brush 28 is held out of contact with the commutator 29 and the driving motor is at rest. However, when the trigger 28 is moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. '7, the toggle spring 64 quickly becomes effective to move the brush 24 into engagement w th the commutator 20 with a snap action, whenever the quadrant 62 has been swung in a clockwise direction to a position wherein the axs of the spring 54 crosses the pivots 50; but when the trigger 28 is released, the spring 66 moves the trigger outwardly and s multaneously swings the quadrant 62 in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivots 60, and the smaller toggle.

spring 94 again becomes active to remove the brush 24 from the commutator 29 with a similar snap action when the axis of the spring 64 again crosses the axis of the pivots 59. The brush guides 55, 51 are fixedly but detachab y held within the sockets 31, 39 respectively of the easing section 9 by means of spring clips 61, 68, and two of the leads of the cable 35 are connected to the brushes 24, 26, while the third wire is grounded on the casing section 9 as shown in Fig. 1, and proper provision must be made to insulate the'brushes from the casing sections 9, ID.

V The mechanism for transmitting rotary mot on at reduced speed from the motor shaft 2| to the driven spindle 29 through the counter-shaft 49, comprises a pinion 69 formed on the end of the main shaft 2i and coacting with a gear 19 secured to the shaft 49 near the ball bearing 41; and another pinion H secured to the shaft 49 near the roller bearing 49 and meshing with a gear 12 secured to the spindle 29 near the roller bearing 43. The bearings 41, 49 of the countershaft 49 may be fixedly but removably secured to- -the interior of the main casing section 9 by means of a removable spring clip 13, and the bearings 43, 44 of the spindle 29 may likewise be fixedly but removably attached to the interior of the same casing section 9 with the aid of a removable clip 14. so that by merely removing the screw of the section 9 and the clips 36, 52, 53, 61, 68. 13, 14 after the casing cover section to has been removed, the motor, switch and transmiss on mechanisms may be independently removed from the supporting section 9. The outer end of the spindle 29 is preferably provided with an integral compact chuck assemblage I5 for drivingly attaching twist drills 18 or other rotary tools to the spindle 29, and in order to permit the portable electric tool unit to be used in cramped quarters such as corners, the peripherr of the chuck Ii-should not project outwardly beyond the barrel portion 3| of the casing.

During normal use of the improved portable electric tool assemblage, and assuming the various parts of the motor and of the control and transmission mechanisms to be properly positioned and secured within the main casing section 9. the cover section should first be properly applied and attached to the main section 9 with the aid of the screws 59, 5: whereupon the tool is ready for use. A twist drill 16 or other similar implement may then be applied to the chuck l5, whereupon the propelling motor may be placed in operation by merely pressing against the trigger 28 so as to cause the lower brush 26 nism for moving the contact brush 29 into and r to engage the commutator 20. The motor rotor l9 will then be revolved at relatively high'speed, causing the fan 32' to revolve and to circulate air through the enclosing housing, and the rotary motion of the motor rotor will be transmitted from the pinion 99 to the counter shaft 49 through the gear 10, and from the counter shaft fact that the lower brush 25 is moved into and out of engagement with the commutator 20 with a snap action, the brush 29 will serve as an effective switch for controlling the operation of the motor. In order to gain access to the motor and other internal structure which is normally housed within the main casing, it is only necessary to unscrew the screws 59 and to remove the cover section l9, whereupon the internal structure which is fixedly mounted within the casing section 9 will be entirely open for inspection but will remain in assembled condition within the main casing section 9. When the cover section It has been thus removed, the motor and transmission mechanism may be run idly for'inspection purposes. The formation of the casing sections'9, i0 is obviously such that the tool can be readily manipulated and the flexible cable 35 will permit disposition of the unit in any desired position.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved portable electric tool assemblage which is extremely simple,-compact and durable in construction, and which is moreover highly flexible and efficient in use. The mounting of the motor and control and transmission mechanisms within one half section of the enclosing casing, and the removability of the cover section along a single plane surface ll, obviously permits convenient assembly and removal of parts, and also permits rapid and thorough inspection of the normally concealed mechanism with least waste of time. The provision of the retaining clips for normally holding the various elements within the main casing section 9, also facilitates assembly of the structure and removal of the various parts thereof; and the cover section I!) coacts with the anti-friction bearings 42, 44, 41, 41 so as to firmly clamp these bearing assemblages in place. The specific formation of the motor field core l2 and the mounting thereof within the casing sections, permits the use of a relatively powerful motor having a rotor l9 of maximum diameter, withoutunduly enlarging the casing, and the trigger actuated toggle mechaout of engagement with the commutator 29 with a snap action, provides reliable means for effectively controlling the operation of the electric motor. 'The formation of the casing sections 9; "I with a gripping handle portion 21 and a barrel portion 3! also facilitates manipulation of the tool and operation thereof in cramped quarters, and the handle 21 also makes it possible to advantageously utilize a control switch of the movable brush type without increasing the bulk of the tool unit. The formation of the chuck I5 integral with the spindle 29 is also an important feature since it produces a compact assembly, and the improved mechanism is of relatively simple construction and can therefore be manufactured at moderate cost. The co-operating housing casing sections 9, ID may also be readily constructed at minimum cost due to the avoidance of complicated machining and the improved port able electric tool has proven highly satisfactory in actual use and dependable in service.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having two closure sections provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and a power outlet opening at the opposite end, said casing sections coacting with each other along a single plane extending from end to end thereof and being detachable along said plane, an electric motor housed within the medial portion of said casing between said closure sections, means for directly attaching each of said casing sections to the field of said motor, means for transmitting motion from said motor through said outlet opening, and means associated with the handle end of said casing for controlling the operation of said motor, said motion transmitting and motor control means being fixedly mounted in one of said closure sections so as to remain therein when the other closure section is removed.

2. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having two closure sections provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and a power outlet opening at the opposite end, said casing sections coacting with each other along a single plane extending from end 'to end thereof, an electric motor housed within the medial portion of said casing between said closure sections and having a field composed of a series oflaminations provided with fiat areas on their opposite sides firmly secured directly to flat zones within V the side casing sections so as to reduce the thickness of the assemblage to a minimum while permitting use of a motor rotor of maximum diameter, means for transmitting motion from said motor through said outlet opening, and means associated with the handle end of said casing for controlling the operation of said motor.

3. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having two closure sections provided with a tions within the confines of said plane of coaction thereof, means for transmitting motion from said motor through said outlet opening, and means associated with said handle for controlling the operation of said brush assemblage.

4. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having two closure sections provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and a power outlet .opening at the opposite end, said casing sections coaeting with each other along a plane extending from end to end thereof, an electric motor housed within the medial portion of said casing between said closure sections, means for transmitting motion fromsaid motor through said outlet opening, and means associated with the handle end of said casing for controlling the operation of said motor, said motor control means including a brush movable toward and away from the motor commutator and a trigger actuated toggle mechanism for moving said 7 brush in opposite directions with a snap action.

5. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having only two similar closure sections provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and a power outlet opening at its opposite end, said sections coacting with each other along a single central plane extending from end to end thereof and being detachable only at said plane, an electric motor normally entirely concealed by said two closure sections and having an armature and commutator and brush mechanisms fixedly mounted directly in one of said closure sections so as to remain attached thereto and completely exposed when the other section is removed,

means for transmitting motion from said motorthrough said outlet opening, and manually operable means associated with the handle end of said casing for controlling the operation of said motor.

6. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having only two similar closure sections coacting with each other along a single central plane extending from end to end thereof and being provided at one end with a pistol grip handie and at its opposite end with a power outlet ing having a pair of similar closure sections coacting with each other along a single central plane extending from one extreme end of the casing to the other and being provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and with a power outlet opening at its opposite end both bisected by said plane, and an electric motor and motion transmitting mechanism normally completely concealed and confined between said closure sections alone, the bearings of said motor and of said transmission mechanism beingv fixedly attached directly within one of said closure sections so a to entirely expose said motor and mechanism and to permit operation thereof in inverted position when the other section is removed along said plane of coaction.

8. A portable electric tool, comprising, a casing having a pair of similar closure sections coacting with each other along a single plane extending from one extreme end of the casing to the other and being provided with -a piston grip handle at one end and with a power outlet opening at its opposite end both bisected by said plane, and an electric motorand motion transmitting mechanism 'normally completely concealed and confined between said closure sections alone, said motor having a commutator and brush mechanism fixedly mounted in the handle end of one of said sections and being entirely exposable to view upon separation of said casing sections at said plane of coaction.

9. A portable electric tool, comprising, a twopart housing having only two similar closure sections coacting with each other along a single plane and being provided with a pistol grip han-- die at one-end and with a power outlet at its said closure sections alone and also having a commutator and brush mechanism normally concealed between the handle portions of said sections, and motion transmitting mechanism normally concealed between the power outlet portions of said closure sections, all of said normally concealed elements being attached directly to only one of said closure sections so as to positively prevent displacement during operation thereof when the other section is removed.

10. A portable electric tool, comprising, a twopart housing having only two similar closure sections coacting with each other along a single plane and being provided with a pistol grip handle at one end and with a power outlet at its opposite end both bisected by said plane, an electric motor having an armature and field normally concealed between the medial portions of said closure sections alone and also having a commutatcr and brush mechanism normally concealed between the handle portions of said sections, and motion transmitting mechanism normally concealed'between the power outlet portions of said closure sections, all of said normally concealed elements being detachably secured directly to only one of said closure sections so as to permit removal of the other closure section and inversion of the first mentioned section without displacing the elements from their carrying section.

11. A portable electric tool, comprising, 9. casing having only two closure sections coacting with each other in clamshell fashion along a single plane extending from end to end of the easing and being provided at one end with a pistol grip handle and at.its opposite end with a power outlet opening both bisected, by said plane, and power means including an electric motor and motor control and motion transmitted mechanisms completely concealed and supported only by said two sections and having jOl. mal bearings fixedly secured in semi-circular sockets in one section with the central bearing axes lying in said plane.

WENDELL K. BECKWITH. 

